 Each of us belongs to many communities. As community members, we have responsibilities- things we should do or obligations that we fulfill voluntarily.  We also have duties – thing we are required to do. We must fulfill duties required by national, state and local governments or face fines or imprisonment.  Obey the law. Laws serve specific purposes, such as to help people get along, prevent accidents, and see that resources are used fairly.

 Pay taxes. Gov’t uses tax money to pay police, pave roads, maintain armed forces, and other activities. Income taxes are a percentage of what people earn. People also pay taxes on the sale of goods and services and on property.  Defend the nation, if called. In the United States, all men aged must register with the government in case the country needs to draft, or call up, me for military service. Service is currently voluntary.  Serve in court, if called. Every adult citizen must be prepared to serve on a jury or as a witness at a trial if called to do so.  Attend school. Most states require young people to attend school until age 16.

 Be informed. Know what the government is doing so that you can voice your opinion. You can learn about issues and leaders by reading print publications, listening to news on the radio or TV, talking to people, and searching the Internet. Also, know your rights.  Speak up and vote. Gov’t exists to serve you, but you must make your concerns known. Call, write or send to your elected representatives. Join a political party or work for a cause. Above all, vote.

 Study candidates and issues before marking your ballot. If the performance of an elected leader falls short, vote for someone else in the next election. Voting ensures a peaceful and orderly change of leadership.  Respect others’ rights. Respect public property and the property of others. Vandalism and littering are not only disrespectful, but are also crimes.  Respect diversity. Although may disagree with people or disapprove of their lifestyles, they have an equal right to their beliefs and practices. Tolerance means respecting and accepting others, regardless of their beliefs, practices, or differences. Diversity is a strength. All citizens are equal and entitled to be treated the same.  Contribute to the common good. Contribute time effort, and money to help others and to improve community life. Be an active participant in your community.

 Americans do volunteer work to help make their communities better places to live. A community is a group of people who share the same interests and concerns. Many volunteers are students in grades 6 through 12.  Gov’ts provide for many needs, but their resources are limited. Also, they are bureaucracies-complex systems with many departments, rules, and people in the chain of command. Thus, gov’t cannot respond quickly to social problems.

 Good citizens are concerned about the welfare- the health, prosperity, and happiness-of all members of the community.  Some ways people participate in the community include leading a scout troop, mentoring schoolchildren, visiting a nursing home, and collecting canned goods.  Volunteerism is the practice of offering your time and services to others without payment. Many Americans also contribute money to charity.  Many companies also believe in giving something back to the community. They may sponsor a recreational sports team, donate prizes for charity fund-raisers, contribute money to build a public swimming pool, or offer college scholarships to students.

 People are more likely to participate when they feel a personal connection to a cause or know others involved.  Many charities are local and focus on one or two projects. Others are large, national organizations with varied activitities. All depend on ordinary people to give their time.  More than half the country’s schools arrange community service for students in grades 6 through 12. Many require it.

 The federal gov’t has created national volunteer programs. Americans in the Peace Corps help people in the poorest corners of the world. Volunteers in AmeriCorps and the Senior Corps serve within the United States.  AmeriCorps members might help disaster victims, clean up polluted rivers, or assist people with disabilities. In exchange, they receive a living allowance and money to help pay for college.  Americans aged 55 and older can volunteer through the Senior Corps. They take part in the three main programs: Foster Grandparents for children with special needs, Senior Companions for other seniors, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program in which they might serve Meals on Wheels or do other neighborhood activities.

 The new USA Freedom Corps brings together the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Senior Corps, plus a new component called Citizen Corps.

 By banding together to serve the community, we really serve ourselves.  Benefits of volunteering: We make our communities better places to live for all of us. We gain opportunities to learn, make friends, and improve skills. We gain the satisfaction of knowing that we make a difference in someone else’s life.